Alberni’s first baby of the year: it’s a girl!

New momma Kelli Rous hold Port Alberni's first baby of the year. Olivia Suzanne Maria Rous was born on Jan. 1 at West Coast General Hospital. Kelli and husband Tony weren't expecting a New Year's baby

While fireworks and Auld Lang Syne rang in most families New Year’s, a baby girl arrived to enrich the life of one young Port Alberni family.

Olivia Suzanne Maria Rous is Port Alberni’s first baby of the year. The six-pound-eight ounce 50 centimetre long girl was born at West Coast General Hospital on Jan. 1 at 7:27 p.m.

“There’s almost no words to describe how we felt when she was born. If I could use one word to describe Olivia arriving it would be ‘blessed,” father Tony said. “She’s a very quiet, contented, peaceful girl,” Tony said. “Kelli and I are kind of like that — but we have our moments.”

Little girls soon grow up, Kelli’s mother said from across the hospital room.”If she’s anything like her mom then she’s going to be a handful,” she said.

Olivia joins her five siblings: four brothers and one sister, who range from age three to 22. “Olivia makes our family complete,” mother Kelli said.

Olivia was born three days earlier than her expected date of Jan. 4 but this is in keeping with a family tradition, Kelli said. “All of our kids were born early. Our boys were born 11 days early,” Kelli said. “Olivia was late in our minds, but we were ready.”

Kelli felt baby coming on Dec. 31 and was admitted to West Coast General Hospital right away. “We weren’t expecting to have a New Year’s baby but it was a nice surprise,” Kelli said. “We thought she was going to be born before Christmas.”

Mother and daughter are scheduled to be released from WCGH on Thursday. “We have her room ready and everything planned,” Kelli said. “We’ve waited a long time for her.”